Head of Strategic Sourcing at Mr. Green Trading Africa Kenya Ltd

Create a new game of recycling in emerging markets by changing the perception of waste”

When you look at a waste picker, what do you see? What do you feel? What do you think? Do you smile and thank them for clearing the man-made mess on the streets and in our homes? Do you recognise their occupation as a noble venture that saves us from potential toxicity? Could they be just like you? With hopes, dreams and demanding waste collection schedules? At Mr. Green Africa, we acknowledge their value.

That being said, we have designed a human-centred business model that illustrates shared value at its best. Mr. Green Africa incentivises marginalised waste pickers and base of the pyramid stakeholders by offering premium prices and added benefits. This restores their dignity and alleviates poverty while at the same time providing a continuous supply of valuable recyclables to Mr. Green Africa.

About the role: Head of Strategic Sourcing

Summary: You will be responsible for driving operational excellence in the General Trade section of the Sourcing Department by overseeing General Trade’s end to end sourcing operations, and managing the department's Sourcing and Marketing team. You will be ultimately responsible for meeting the General Trade Department’s targets for procuring recyclable plastics, managing employee performance, developing and maintaining partnerships with suppliers (both big and small), and exploring new opportunities to grow the sourcing of plastics. In addition, you will oversee operations and manage the performance of Mr. Green Africa’s (MGA) 25 Nairobi-based Trading Points, and manage a team of dedicated staff to ensure those trading points are run efficiently and effectively. You will report to the Chief Sourcing Officer.

Leadership Responsibilities and Duties:

• Lead General Trade team to meet departmental targets as per the company’s internal targets and scorecards

• Drive the General Trade team to identify issues, develop and test potential solutions, and institutionalise solutions that are found to be successful in purchasing more plastic material

• Oversee the recruitment, hiring and management of General Trade team members, and work closely with the HR department to comply with company policies

• Collaborate with MGA management to determine General Trade team scorecards, assign activities and tasks to respective team members, and hold team members accountable 

Operations Responsibilities and Duties:

• Oversee operations at all MGA trading points and ensure trading points are compliant with Mr. Green processes and procedure, and Kenyan law, and oversee relationships with local government authorities 

• Work with Sourcing Technical Advisor, General Trade team members, including but not limited to frontline and support staff, to identify operational issues at trading points, develop and test potential solutions, and institutionalise solutions that are found to be successful 

• Oversee any HR matters that concern trading points clerks and supervisors, including leave management, disciplinary matters, monitoring trading point staff performance, conducting performance reviews and recruiting, hiring and training clerks as needed 

• Manage Field Operations Officers to ensure Trading Points are run per MGA standards and procedures and are achieving financial and operational objectives 

• Oversee the development and approval of trading point clerks’, runners’, and casuals’ schedules

• Oversee procurement requests relevant to trading points 

Growth Responsibilities and Duties: 

• Research and develop relationships with corporate suppliers for possible partnerships 

• Remain current on market trends with potential competitors and suppliers

• Work with Sourcing Technical Advisor and Chief Growth Officer to identify new sourcing strategies, test potential strategies, and institutionalise successful ones 

• Support Sourcing & Marketing Manager and collaborate with Community Outreach Officers

• Oversee relevant waste picker and supplier programmes and projects, including relevant aspects of the Waste Picker Transformation Journey

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in supply chain management, procurement, logistics or business administration
• 7+ years of work experience, at least 4 years in management
• Proven experience in complex project management
• Sales and marketing experience preferred 
• Ability to delegate and hold team members accountable
• Strong project management and leadership skills
• Excellent negotiating skills and ability to maintain networks and relationships
• Excellent partnership and networking skills
• Knowledge of the local regulations on recycling and environmental law a plus
• Understanding of market dynamics and sound business judgment
• Ability to lead a team to identify problems, develop and test potential solutions, and scale solutions